Web 2.0 got you feeling overwhelmed? Learn some essential applications that will help you organize your online professional life.
Introduction to Cloud Computing: A geek, yet very effective
Let's take a tour of web 2.0 applications that let you work from anywhere, store and retrieve your documents from any computer, and become a social learner along the way. Once you've got your digital life together, you'll find your work is more accessible and streamlined!
Diigo
A social bookmarking tool, similar to delicious (but with even more functions), that offers features for sharing links through groups or creating quick webpages through lists. Karen's Diigo / Karen's Lists
Thank you, Karen, for sharing your lists...I hope everyone is bookmarking them. Wikis at Wikispaces
Wikis abound, and for good reason. Wikis make it possible to jointly edit a web presence. Wikis allow the combined intelligence and efforts of you and your peers to come to life in an easy to edit and manage tool. Publish immediately, keep track of every revision, and present your best, collaborative work. Wikispaces is our favorite - they've been around a while, offer great extras for K-12, and are very easy to build and manage.
Library Thing
One of many online card catalogs. This is my favorite as it's run by real librarians who have a love of books. Here's Karen's list. List of Library Thing groups.
Twitter
Is twitter just a passing fad? Is it something for the overly media-addicted to waste precious time? Most would say no! Twitter allows its community to be a part of conversations, without having to dive in and stop what you're doing. Some twitter members listen in on conversations, jumping in when they've got time, or something of note to share. Others are using email less and twitter more to be able to share ideas and conversations publicly - and why not? Lots of folks can learn from each other without having to be in the confines of private email. Chris at Twitter / Karen at Twitter
Google docs/apps
You need an office suite on the go. You also need to share documents, get others to help you create the best documents possible. Google Docs lets you take your office suite to the cloud, with the rest of your social network. The Google Appsversion adds several nice features for a school or district that makes things a bit more protected and organization-centric.
Nings
The teens have their myspace - friend circles, sharing music, connecting with pals, keeping abreast of what's going on in their world, and so on. Creating your own social network is easy, using a Ning. The NECC ning, for example, is an online, social group devoted to NECC attendees - find friends with common interests, get the scoop on super sessions, find out about receptions, scope out the best vendors, etc. Ning social network sites are easy to create - perhaps your school or organization needs their own private space!
iGoogle
Once you start getting these cloud-based apps up and running, you need a "home base." RSS (real simple syndication) is a way that your cloud activity can come to you via 'feeds' or push-technology. iGoogle is an RSS application that lets you set up nice, neat modules that stream your online content to you in an organized way.
Extras: Animoto
One of my favorite digital storytelling tools is Animoto. The site allows you to create short slideshows using your own text, images, and music. A free account lets you and your students make as many 30 second movies/stories as you'd like. If you sign up for an "All Access Pass" for educators ($30.00 a year), you get "all access" for you and your students (as many longer videos as you'd like, not limited to 30 seconds). Tutorial here.
Librivox Librivox is a social site that provides free audio books from the public domain. Want Aesop's Fables in mp3 format for your little ones? How about War of the Worlds for older readers? You'll find tons of audio books at librivox, all for free, all read by volunteers. Audiobooks are fantastic tools for learners in your classroom - including you!
Web 2.0 got you feeling overwhelmed? Learn some essential applications that will help you organize your online professional life.
Introduction to Cloud Computing: A geek, yet very effective
Let's take a tour of web 2.0 applications that let you work from anywhere, store and retrieve your documents from any computer, and become a social learner along the way. Once you've got your digital life together, you'll find your work is more accessible and streamlined!
Diigo
A social bookmarking tool, similar to delicious (but with even more functions), that offers features for sharing links through groups or creating quick webpages through lists. Karen's Diigo / Karen's Lists
Thank you, Karen, for sharing your lists...I hope everyone is bookmarking them.
Wikis at Wikispaces
Wikis abound, and for good reason. Wikis make it possible to jointly edit a web presence. Wikis allow the combined intelligence and efforts of you and your peers to come to life in an easy to edit and manage tool. Publish immediately, keep track of every revision, and present your best, collaborative work. Wikispaces is our favorite - they've been around a while, offer great extras for K-12, and are very easy to build and manage.
Library Thing
One of many online card catalogs. This is my favorite as it's run by real librarians who have a love of books. Here's Karen's list. List of Library Thing groups.
Twitter
Is twitter just a passing fad? Is it something for the overly media-addicted to waste precious time? Most would say no! Twitter allows its community to be a part of conversations, without having to dive in and stop what you're doing. Some twitter members listen in on conversations, jumping in when they've got time, or something of note to share. Others are using email less and twitter more to be able to share ideas and conversations publicly - and why not? Lots of folks can learn from each other without having to be in the confines of private email. Chris at Twitter / Karen at Twitter
Google docs/apps
You need an office suite on the go. You also need to share documents, get others to help you create the best documents possible. Google Docs lets you take your office suite to the cloud, with the rest of your social network. The Google Appsversion adds several nice features for a school or district that makes things a bit more protected and organization-centric.
Nings
The teens have their myspace - friend circles, sharing music, connecting with pals, keeping abreast of what's going on in their world, and so on. Creating your own social network is easy, using a Ning. The NECC ning, for example, is an online, social group devoted to NECC attendees - find friends with common interests, get the scoop on super sessions, find out about receptions, scope out the best vendors, etc. Ning social network sites are easy to create - perhaps your school or organization needs their own private space!
iGoogle
Once you start getting these cloud-based apps up and running, you need a "home base." RSS (real simple syndication) is a way that your cloud activity can come to you via 'feeds' or push-technology. iGoogle is an RSS application that lets you set up nice, neat modules that stream your online content to you in an organized way.
Extras:
Animoto
One of my favorite digital storytelling tools is Animoto. The site allows you to create short slideshows using your own text, images, and music. A free account lets you and your students make as many 30 second movies/stories as you'd like. If you sign up for an "All Access Pass" for educators ($30.00 a year), you get "all access" for you and your students (as many longer videos as you'd like, not limited to 30 seconds). Tutorial here.
Librivox
Librivox is a social site that provides free audio books from the public domain. Want Aesop's Fables in mp3 format for your little ones? How about War of the Worlds for older readers? You'll find tons of audio books at librivox, all for free, all read by volunteers. Audiobooks are fantastic tools for learners in your classroom - including you!